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Our  Homage  to  the  Past 


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An  Historical  Address 
Delivered  at  Founders’  Day  Celebration  Nq^, 
of  Illinois  Woman’s  College 
Jacksonville,  Illinois 
October  13 
1910 


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By 

H iram  Buck  Prentice 

Kenilworth,  Illinois 


Printed  by  order  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/ourhomagetopasth1910illi 


Q_ 


Our  Homage  to  the  Past 


Rev.  William  Swain  Prentice,  D.D. 

May  21,  1819  June  28,  1887 


Rev.  Hiram  Buck,  D.D. 

March  i,  1819  August  21,  1892 


Our  Homage  to  the  Past 

In  treating  this  theme  it  shall  be  my  aim  to  have  it 
apply  principally  to  the  men  known  as  the  “Founders  of 
1862,”  and  incidentally  to  such  other  men  and  events  of 
the  nearby  years  as  seem  necessary  to  give  to  it  the 
proper  setting.  First  I should  say  that  most  of  what 
is  said  about  persons  is  intended  as  a collection  of  per- 
sonal impressions,  gained  not  fronj  observations  at  the 
time,  but  from  a subsequent  knowledge  of  these  men, 
with  most  of  whom  I came  in  contact  in  later  years,  and 
of  course  I speak  with  greater  confidence  and  fullness 
of  such  as  I have  known.  By  no  means  is  this  intended 
to  be  an  historical  essay,  but  rather  a short  cursory 
comment  descriptive  of  the  times  in  which  this  crucial 
period  of  the  college’s  history  was  laid,  of  the  atmosphere 
and  conditions  that  surrounded  these  times,  and  enough 
of  facts  to  warrant  the  conclusion  that  we  do  well  to 
honor  these  men  of  the  past. 

YOKE  FELLOWS. 

But  before  taking  up  the  theme  proper  I shall  first 
discharge  that  part  of  the  duty  laid  upon  me  by  President 
Harker,  of  saying  something  specially  about  the  two  men 
of  this  number  whom  I knew  best — my  father,  William 
S.  Prentice,  and  Hiram  Buck,  whose  lives  and  labors  as 
ministers  were  so  closely  linked  together ; realizing,  how- 
ever, my  utter  inability  to  adequately  perform  this  serv- 
ice and  speak  of  them  as  they  should  be  and  could  be 
spoken  of. 

These  two  men  were  born  in  the  same  year — 1819. 
They  were  entirely  unlike,  and  yet  from  their  first  ac- 
quaintance, which  was  after  they  had  both  entered  the 


ministry,  their  natures  seemed  to  blend  into  one  and 
throughout  the  remainder  of  their  lives  they  were  to  each 
other  as  David  and  Jonathan. 

Young  Buck  was  brought  up  in  New  York  state  on 
a farm  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  came  west  to  Illinois, 
where  he  shifted  for  himself,  clerking  and  working  at 
whatever  he  could  find  to  do.  He  was  studious,  mostly 
his  own  teacher,  and  what  he  learned  he  learned  well. 
He  was  converted  and  entered  the  Illinois  conference  in 
1843,  slK  years  before  Prentice.  He  rose  rapidly  and 
always  measured  up  to  the  responsibilities  of  the  larger 
fields  that  opened  to  him.  He  became  presiding  elder  at 
the  age  of  thirty-three  years  and  was  in  that  office  twenty- 
three  years. 

Dr.  Buck  was  a man  large  of  stature,  large  of  heart. 
Everybody  loved  him  and  he  loved  everybody.  With 
children  he  was  a veritable  Kriss  Kringle,  with  his  breth- 
ren a jovial  companion,  and  with  the  people,  who  “heard 
him  gladly”  and  always  welcomed  his  coming,  a genial 
and  trusted  friend. 

As  a preacher  and  orator  he  was  a Boanerges — a 
“son  of  thunder.”  Sin  and  Satan,  treason  and  disloyalty 
trembled  at  his  powerful  and  impassioned  utterances.  He 
was  a man  of  fine  sensibilities,  with  a high  conception 
of  honor  and  of  propriety  in  all  things.  He  loved  poetry, 
he  loved  nature  in  all  her  ways,  he  loved  a good  horse, 
and  in  that  day  this  was  the  itinerant’s  chief  means  of 
rapid  transit.  But  above  all  he  loved  the  right,  he  loved 
the  people,  he  loved  Methodism,  he  loved  the  world,  he 
loved  God.  His  services  were  in  great  demand  during 
the  war,  and  by  voice  and  pen  he  labored  unceasingly  to 
promote  the  cause  of  the  union  and  the  overthrow  of 
secession.  Had  he  entered  the  field  of  politics  his  mag- 
netism and  oratory,  together  with  his  sterling  qualities 
of  head  and  heart  and  his  love  for  the  people,  would  have 
made  him  a popular  idol.  An  instance  of  his  loyalty 


to  the  church  and  to  his  high  calling  was  shown  when 
he  declined  the  office  of  postmaster  at  Decatur,  111.,  which 
was  offered  to  him  by  President  Johnson  in  recognition 
of  his  patriotic  services  during  the  war. 

Dr.  Buck  believed  in  education  and  had  strongly  at 
heart  the  interests  of  the  schools  affiliated  with  his  own 
conference.  He  was  a good  money  raiser  and  in  great 
demand  for  dedication  occasions.  He  served  very  effi- 
ciently as  financial  agent  of  both  Illinois  Conference  Fe- 
male College  and  Illinois  Wesleyan  University.  He  gave 
$1,240  to  the  fund  of  1862,  when  he  was  receiving  a 
salary  of  $800  as  pastor  of  West  Charge,  Jacksonville. 
The  last  years  of  his  life  he  turned  over  to  Illinois  Wes- 
leyan University  at  Bloomington  land  valued  at  $27,500 
conditioned  upon  the  university  raising  $55,000  addi- 
tional for  its  endowment  fund  within  a specified  time. 
The  conditions  were  met  and  the  university  got  the  land. 
He  made  a similar  offer  to  the  Illinois  Female  College 
in  1892,  offering  to  deed  to  it  160  acres  of  land  valued 
then  at  $16,000  (and  now  worth  double  the  amount),  pro- 
vided the  college  would  raise  $40,000  additional  for  the 
endowment  fund  by  commencement  day  of  June,  1893.  It 
is  greatly  to  be  deplored  that  for  some  reason  no  serious 
efforts  seem  to  have  been  made  to  comply  with  the  con- 
ditions and  this  munificent  gift  was  thus  lost  to  the 
college.  A knowledge  of  this  outcome  would  have 
been  a great  grief  to  Dr.  Buck,  but  death  spared  him  this, 
as  he  was  taken  shortly  after  making  the  offer  and  months 
before  the  limitation  of  time  expired,  during  all  of  which 
time,  however,  his  widow  stood  ready  and  anxious  to 
carry  the  offer  into  effect.  It  was  through  his  sagacity 
and  foresight  in  entering  land  from  the  government  at 
an  early  day  at  $1.25  an  acre  and  holding  on  to  it  that 
he  was  enabled  to  make  these  generous  offers.  Mrs. 
Buck,  who  was  his  faithful  helpmeet  and  companion  for 
forty-six  years,  still  survives,  bright  and  vivacious  in 


spirit  and  kindly  of  heart.  She  abounds  in  interesting 
reminiscences  of  the  days  of  long  ago  and  still  retains  a 
lively  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  church  which  the  sac- 
rifices and  long  service  of  an  itinerant’s  wife  have  made 
dear  to  her. 

William  S.  Prentice  was  raised  in  Illinois,  attended 
the  country  school,  began  clerking  and  at  twenty  he 
and  my  uncle  constituted  the  entire  clerical  force  of  the 
state  auditor’s  office,  then  located  at  Vandalia.  He  moved 
with  the  office  to  Springfield  in  1839.  He  was  a lieuten- 
ant-colonel in  the  state  militia  and  participated  conspicu- 
ously with  Douglas  and  Lincoln,  both  of  whom  he  knew 
well,  in  the  gaieties  at  the  new  state  capital.  He  became 
a good  business  man,  his  last  secular  employment  being 
that  of  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  of  Shelby  county,  Illi- 
nois. It  was  at  Shelbyville  that  he  was  converted  and 
licensed  to  preach.  He  joined  the  Illinois  conference  in 
1849  at  the  age  of  thirty. 

He  was  a tall,  slender  man,  having  a fine  head,  a 
kindly  face,  an  intelligent  eye  and  a tender  heart.  He 
advocated  and  possessed  himself  the  homely  qualities  of 
justice,  honesty,  frankness  and  fidelity.  He  was  modest 
and  unassuming  and  always  had  a wide  and  intimate 
acquaintance  with  public  men  and  men  of  affairs.  He 
was  firm  as  a rock  when  need  be  and  always  so  when  a 
question  of  principle  was  involved.  He  had  a superior 
mind,  was  a logical  reasoner,  analytical  and  thorough 
in  the  treatment  of  every  subject.  Granting  his  prem- 
ises, his  conclusions  were  irrefutable,  and  he  had  the  rare 
faculty  of  making  his  statements  and  expositions  stand 
out  with  such  clearness  that  they  seemed  to  take  animate 
tangible  form  before  your  eyes  and  always  made  a last- 
ing impression.  There  never  was  any  question  as  to 
his  meaning  or  of  ‘‘what  he  was  driving  at.”  He  al- 
ways arrested  attention,  because  he  always  had  something 


to  say  and  the  young  and  old,  high  and  low,  learned  and 
unlearned,  understood  him.  He  never  felt  more  highly 
complimented  than  to  have  the  children  go  home  and  tell 
what  he  had  preached  about. 

Dr.  W.  H.  H.  Adams,  of  blessed  memory,  likened 
his  sermons  to  those  of  John  Wesley  for  lucidity  of  state- 
ment, logical  reasoning  and  practical  application. 

James  Leaton,  the  historian  of  Illinois  Methodism, 
said  of  Dr.  Prentice : “He  was  a natural  presiding  elder. 
It  is  no  dispraise  of  others  to  say  that  he  possessed  the 
presiding  elder  instinct  in  a larger  share  than  most  men. 
* * * and  he  was  ecclesiastically  and  morally  one  of 

the  best  administrators  of  discipline  in  the  Illinois  con- 
ference. His  intellectual  quality  was  very  rare ; his  mind 
was  of  a practical  quality  and  cast.  * * * His  ana- 

lytic power  was  remarkable.  His  mind  was  incisive  and 
went  to  the  core  of  the  subject.  He  looked  upon  every- 
thing from  a practical  standpoint,  and  not  from  a theoret- 
ical, thus  causing  his  judgments  to  be  almost  infallible. 
There  was  no  cant  about  him,  no  stage  effect,  no  attempt 
at  display,  but  there  was  clearness  of  statement,  logical 
development  of  his  subject,  and  a copiousness  of  illus- 
tration that  made  him  really  on  his  plane  a preacher  of 
surpassing  power.  He  seemed  to  seize  upon  the  salient 
points,  the  very  essence  and  marrow  of  the  truth,  and 
so  present  it  that  everyone  who  heard  him  could  not  but 
take  hold  of  it  and  appropriate  it.  There  was  an  under- 
current of  pathos  in  his  preaching  which  sometimes,  when 
his  heart  was  warmed,  would  burst  out  in  great  foun- 
tains of  feeling  that  would  move  his  audience  and  melt 
them  to  tears.  He  was  a true  man,  honorable  and  up- 
right in  everything,  a man  of  action,  and  having  a great 
contempt  for  meanness  in  every  form.”  So  said  Dr. 
Leaton. 

In  traveling  the  district  (and  he  was  twenty-four 
years  a presiding  elder)  my  father’s  coming  was  always 


looked  forward  to  with  pleasant  anticipation  by  the 
preachers  and  the  families  with  whom  he  stopped.  He 
put  good  cheer  into  their  lives  and  was  a welcome  guest 
equally  with  the  children  and  the  grown-ups.  He  had 
a strong  sense  of  humor,  was  an  admirable  story  teller 
and  when  with  a company  of  his  brethren  for  a social 
time,  he  was  the  center  and  leader  of  jovial  good  cheer 
and  merrymaking;  that  is,  unless  Crane  was  also  pres- 
ent to  share  the  honors.  And  who  ever  saw  men  who 
could  have  a better  time  than  a set  of  Methodist  preach- 
ers a generation  ago?  They  seemed  to  be  bubbling  over 
with  good  cheer.  It  was  always  at  the  surface  ready 
to  be  tapped  upon  the  slightest  provocation.  When  they 
met  the  very  fact  of  looking  into  each  other’s  faces  was 
sufficient  cause  for  a hearty  laugh,  and  at  the  “drop  of 
a hat’’  they  would  break  out  into  a roar,  and  when  some- 
thing uncommonly  funny  happened — which  it  always  did 
on  these  occasions — the  clerical  hilarity  became  so  boister- 
ous as  to  very  nearly  make  every  one  of  them  a proper 
subject  of  arrest  for  disturbance  of  the  peace. 

My  father,  like  Dr.  Buck,  was  also  a strong  believer 
in  the  church  school  and  his  interest  lay  principally  with 
the  two  conference  schools,  the  Illinois  Female  College 
and  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University.  I have  in  my  pos- 
session my  father’s  memorandum  book,  which  has  an 
account  in  it  called  “College  Debt.”  It  refers  to  this 
very  indebtedness  which  was  raised  in  1862  and  reveals 
something  of  how  these  preachers  raised  the  ready  cash 
with  which  to  pay  their  large  subscriptions.  This  ac- 
count shows  that  he  borrowed  $1,100  from  Judge  Thomas 
at  10  per  cent  interest  and  in  1865  the  account  was  still 
running,  having  been  reduced  to  about  $500.  How  many 
years  it  took  to  pay  off  this  balance  I cannot  say.  In 
1862  he  was  forty-three  years  of  age,  presiding  elder  of 
Jacksonville  district  receiving  a salary  of  $750  with  a 
family  of  six  to  support.  These  men  were  not  afraid  to 


undertake  large  things  and  to  aid  them  in  carrying  out 
their  undertakings  they  were  not  afraid  to  borrow  money 
and  others  were  not  afraid  to  loan  them. 

Buck  and  Prentice — what  a team  they  were.  What 
one  could  not  do  the  other  could,  so  by  joining  together 
they  seemed  to  be  able  to  accomplish  almost  anything. 
One  has  said  of  them  that  Prentice  molded  the  bullets  and 
Buck  fired  them.  True  it  is  that  they  were  born  leaders 
of  men,  not  by  self-assertion,  for  they  were  both  too  mod- 
est and  loyal  for  that,  but  by  common  consent  they  were 
chosen  such  by  their  brethren,  who  looked  to  them  for 
leadership,  and  with  men  of  their  mold  it  would  have  been 
so  in  any  walk  of  life.  They  belonged  to  that  remarkable 
coterie  of  men  whose  strength  of  administration  and  lead- 
ership is  still  an  abiding  force  and  a living  inspiration  as 
well  as  a cherished  memory.  Their  counsel  was  sought  by 
bishops,  editors  and  high  church  officials  as  well  as  by 
those  high  in  state.  They  commanded  universal  respect 
and  confidence  and  had  no  small  share  in  giving  to  the 
Illinois  conference  a standing  and  prestige  that  were  rec- 
ognized throughout  the  entire  connection  as  among  the 
very  highest. 

These  two  men  were  boon  companions  for  nearly  forty 
years  and  their  lives  were  so  welded  together  that  one 
seemed  a part  of  the  other.  Had  Buck  had  a son  he 
no  doubt  would  have  named  him  William  Prentice  just 
as  Prentice  named  his  son  Hiram  Buck,  little  realizing 
the  impossible  task  which  was  thus  imposed  upon  the  in- 
nocent subject  of  properly  maintaining  in  later  years  the 
dignity  of  their  combined  great  names  or  of  represent- 
ing all  that  they  stand  for.  Beecher  said : “In  friend- 
ship your  heart  is  like  a bell  struck  every  time  your  friend 
is  in  trouble.”  Their  friendship  was  this  and  it  was 
more.  They  stood  by  each  other  at  all  times  whether 
it  be  in  joy  or  in  sorrow,  in  health  or  in  sickness,  in  tri- 


umph  or  in  distress.  They  were  inseparable — a beautiful 
friendship  that  made  them  one  in  purpose,  one  in  heart, 
typifying  the  blending  of  spirits  in  the  realm  beyond  to 
which  they  have  gone  and,  whither,  let  us  trust,  our 
footsteps  too  are  tending.  Shall  we  ever  see  their  like 
again  ? 


THE  TIMES. 

And  now  to  the  days  of  ’62  and  something  about  the 
conditions  then  existing.  This  period  was  not  only  a 
period  of  dark  days  for  the  college,  but  of  dark  days 
for  our  country — the  darkest  through  which  it  has  ever 
passed — for  during  four  years  of  this  decade  the  great 
civil  war  was  raging  and  for  the  remainder  of  the  dec- 
ade the  country  was  struggling  to  recover  from  the  pros- 
tration brought  about  by  the  war.  The  census  of  i860 
gives  Illinois  a population  of  1,711,951,  Chicago  109,260, 
Springfield  9,320  and  Jacksonville  5,528,  so  that  com- 
pared with  today  the  state  was  sparsely  settled.  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  was  president  and  Richard  Yates  was  war 
governor.  The  war  was  the  absorbing  topic  of  the  times 
and  party  feeling  ran  high.  Cartwright,  Buck,  Prentice 
and  Crane  were  Democrats,  and  although  differing  in 
politics  from  the  great  majority  of  their  brethren  they 
were  accorded  continued  leadership  by  them  throughout 
this  trying  period.  They  were  “war  Democrats”  and  no 
more  loyal  and  effective  service  was  rendered  than  that 
given  by  these  men  in  their  efforts  to  maintain  the  union. 
Crane  went  out  with  U.  S.  Grant  as  chaplain  of  his  regi- 
ment. The  others  by  their  speeches  and  influence  were 
untiring  in  their  efforts  to  hold  Illinois  true  to  the  union 
— and  it  is  a well  known  fact  of  history  that  there  was  a 
time  when  Illinois  was  trembling  in  the  balance  with  the 
impending  danger  of  becoming  a state  divided  against 
itself.  At  this  time  Prentice,  who  had  long  been  a close 


EDMUND  J.  JAMBS 

friend  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  sent  word  to  the  senator 
at  Washington  urging  him  to  come  out  to  Illinois  and 
use  his  influence  to  stem  the  tide  of  disloyalty  that  was 
setting  in.  Senator  Douglas  at  once  went  to  see  the 
president.  Mr.  Lincoln  advised  him  to  go.  He  did  so 
and  with  patriotic  fervor  urged  the  people  to  support 
the  administration  and  rally  round  the  flag.  They  were 
obedient  to  his  call.  The  state  was  solidified  for  the 
union  and  never  thereafter  was  the  loyalty  of  its  united 
people  called  in  question.  This  was  in  1861.  Other 
well  known  members  of  the  conference  whom  I call  to 
mind  and  who  attained  distinction  in  the  field  are  Jesse 
H.  Moore,  J.  F.  Jaquess,  the  first  president  of  Illinois 
Female  College,  and  Allen  Buckner,  each  of  whom  com- 
manded a regiment.  W.  J.  Rutledge,  R.  E.  Guthrie,  E. 

D.  Wilkin,  Preston  Wood  and  quite  a number  of  others 
went  into  the  army  as  chaplains. 

The  conference  minutes  of  1862  show  a decrease  of 
membership  for  the  year  of  725,  the  total  membership 
of  the  conference  being  26,800,  as  against  about  85,000 
now.  This  decrease  no  doubt  reflected  the  deleterious 
influence  of  the  war  excitement  and  evidently  applied  not 
only  to  the  church,  but  to  schools,  trade,  commerce  and 
industries  of  every  kind.  These  facts  about  the  war  I 
mention  principally  to  show  the  distracting,  prostrating 
and  blighting  influence  that  the  founders  of  1862  had  to 
encounter  in  their  endeavors  to  carry  on  the  work  of 
the  church  and  of  its  colleges.  They  were  up  against 
stern  realities,  and  things  had  come  to  such  a pass  that 
they  were  facing  the  question  not  “how  much  can  we 
advance  and  go  forward  this  year,”  which  is  always 
the  slogan  of  the  Methodist  preacher,  but  “what  can 
we  do  to  keep  things  together  and  hold  our  own.” 

Truly  they  were  beset  by  “fightings  without  and  fears 
within,”  and  because  of  this  that  which  they  accom- 
plished was  all  the  more  noteworthy  and  remarkable. 


FOUNDERS  AND  CONTEMPORARIES. 

And  now  something  of  other  characters  who  made  up 
the  life  and  entered  into  the  activities  of  these  stirring 
and  historic  days.  Who  were  they?  I cannot  hope  to 
mention  all,  for  this  would  mean  to  call  the  roll  of  the 
entire  conference  at  that  time.  I can  only  give  a few, 
and  these  such  as  most  of  you,  with  me,  will  remember 
either  from  acquaintance  or  by  reputation. 

First  and  foremost,  of  course,  comes  Peter  Cart- 
wright, claimed  by  all  Methodism,  then  seventy-seven 
years  of  age  and  presiding  elder  of  the  Springfield  dis- 
trict. He  continued  in  active  service  until  1869  and  died 
in  1872.  His  was  a remarkable  career.  When  we  con- 
sider that  he  was  born  six  years  before  John  Wesley 
died,  and  that  most  of  us  were  born  before  Cartwright 
died,  and  today  are  witnessing  and  enjoying  some  of  the 
harvest  of  his  planting,  it  seems  to  bridge  over  the  seem- 
ingly far  stretching  expanse  between  us  and  the  great 
founder  of  Methodism  and  to  make  us  feel  a little  nearer 
to  him,  and  as  it  were,  to  feel  the  touch  of  his  spirit, 
which  was  ever  concerned  for  the  welfare  of  education, 
and  which  spirit  Cartwright  and  his  contemporaries  so 
faithfully  cherished  and  passed  on  down  to  their  succes- 
sors even  to  the  present  day  and  hour.  In  1862  Peter 
Cartwright  gave  $1,000  to  the  college.  His  salary  for 
the  preceding  year  was  $500. 

Then  comes  Peter  Akers,  at  this  time  seventy-two 
years  of  age.  He  was  not  then  a member  of  the  Illinois 
conference,  having  transferred  some  time  before,  I think 
to  the  Southern  Illinois  conference,  but  transferred  back 
to  the  Illinois  conference  later.  He  was  an  original 
founder  of  the  college  and  probably  was  the  most  noted 
member  the  conference  ever  had,  excepting  Cartwright, 
He  was  profoundly  learned  in  the  Bible  and  had  a church- 


wide  reputation  as  an  expositor  of  the  Scriptures.  He 
is  credited  or  rather  debited  with  preaching  sermons  three 
and  four  hours  long.  What  was  a credit  in  this  respect 
in  those  days  is  a decided  debit  in  these. 

At  this  time  Dr.  Charles  Adams  was  president  of 
the  college.  He  held  this  position  from  1858  to  1868. 
He  was  a talented,  courteous  and  genial  Christian  gentle- 
man and  at  this  time  was  fifty-four  years  of  age. 

Rev.  George  Rutledge  was  a lovable  man,  a good 
preacher  and  stood  high  in  the  conference.  At  this  time 
he  had  just  been  assigned  to  the  Bloomington  district. 
His  salary  for  the  preceding  year  was  $642  and  he  sub- 
scribed in  1862  $2,000  to  the  college. 

Rev.  Collin  D.  James  at  this  time  was  fifty-four 
years  old  and  was  just  finishing  up  a year’s  service  as 
financial  agent  of  the  college.  He  is  credited  with  giving 
$1,400  to  the  college  in  1862,  and  that  year  was  sent 
to  Old  Town,  Bloomington  district,  where  the  salary  paid 
the  year  before  was  $600,  so  it  is  an  easy  problem  in 
mental  arithmetic  to  figure  that  he  could  not  pay  his 
subscription  that  year. 

Then  there  was  W.  D.  R.  Trotter,  presiding  elder 
of  Paris  district,  at  that  time  fifty-five  years  of  age.  He 
was  an  original  founder,  but  not  on  the  list  of  1862.  He 
was  an  able  man,  a genial  companion  and  a fine  preacher. 
He  was  the  first  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Central  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  which  enterprise,  however,  caused  him 
financial  los*s  from  which  he  never  recovered. 

The  laymen  who  were  among  the  founders  of  1862 
are  Judge  William  Thomas,  John  Mathers,  Mat- 
thew Stacy,  John  A.  Chesnut,  Thomas  J.  Larimore, 
James  H.  Lurton  and  Judge  William  Brown.  John 
A.  Chesnut  was  a Springfield  man,  formerly  of  Carlin- 


ville,  and  the  others  lived  in  Jacksonville.  These  men 
all  evidenced  their  loyalty  to  and  interest  in  the  college 
by  giving  liberally  to  the  fund  of  1862  : Thomas,  $5,100 ; 
Mathers,  $3,225;  Stacy,  $2,700;  Chesnut,  $1,750; 
Larimore,  $1,600;  Lurton,  $1,400;  Brown,  $1,600.  I 
am  of  the  impression  that  these  Jacksonville  laymen  were 
the  great  financial  power  back  of  the  college  movement. 
Judge  Thomas  and  John  Mathers  not  only  gave  lib- 
erally themselves,  but  must  have  underwritten  a large 
part  of  the  preachers’  subscriptions.  I am  led  to  think 
so  because  I have  among  my  father’s  papers  an  old  can- 
celled note  given  by  him  to  Judge  Thomas  which  John 
Mathers  had  signed  as  security.  Judge  Thomas,  if  not 
then,  became  afterwards  the  foremost  layman  in  the 
conference  and  as  such  was  sent  as  a lay  delegate  to  the 
general  conference  of  1872,  the  first  to  admit  lay  dele- 
gates. His  colleague  was  Joseph  G.  English  of  Dan- 
ville. John  A.  Chesnut  stood  high  as  a layman  and 
was  a rare  Christian  gentleman.  He  was  elected  a dele- 
gate to  the  general  conference  of  1876,  together  with 
Judge  W.  J.  Henry  of  Danville.  In  those  days  the  con- 
ference was  only  allowed  to  send  two  lay  delegates,  so 
that  the  honor  was  of  much  higher  import  than  at  the 
present  time. 

Then  there  is  Rev.  Newton  Cloud  credited  with  $700 
to  the  fund  of  1862.  That  year  he  was  sent  to  Roches- 
ter, where  the  salary  was  $425.  Newton  Cloud  was  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability  and  prominence.  He 
had  been  president  of  the  constitutional  convention  of 
1847,  whose  acts  were  adopted  by  a vote  of  the  people  of 
the  state  of  Illinois  in  the  following  year  and  known  as 
the  constitution  of  1848. 

James  L.  Crane  in  1862  was  sent  from  East  Charge, 
Jacksonville,  to  Springfield  First  church,  at  the  age  of 


thirty-nine.  The  salary  was  $1,000,  the  highest  in  the 
conference,  but  with  a family  of  five  husky,  ravenous 
boys  to  feed,  whom  I knew  as  brothers,  he  could  not 
have  saved  very  much  towards  liquidating  his  subscrip- 
tion of  $375.  The  very  thought  of  James  L.  Crane  pro- 
vokes a smile  of  tender  regard  with  all  who  bring  his 
kindly  face  to  mind.  Looking  down  the  long  list  of  noble 
names  that  grace  the  history  of  Illinois  conference  his 
name  looms  high  up  among  the  greatest  and  the  best.  He 
was  the  embodiment  of  tact,  humor,  gentleness,  and  of 
forceful  efficiency,  and  with  Buck  and  Prentice  formed 
a trio  of  genial  spirits  whose  close  companionship  became 
a center  of  consecrated  good  fellowship,  from  which 
radiated  influences  that  brightened  and  cheered,  and  gave 
to  their  brethren  a relaxation  from  the  sterner  duties  of 
the  itinerancy,  adding  a zest  to  the  preacher’s  daily  task 
that  stimulated  and  inspired  them  to  their  best  efforts. 

Then  R.  W.  Travis  gave  $500.  He  was  then  forty- 
three  years  of  age  and  presiding  elder  of  Decatur  dis- 
trict, a good  preacher  and  a man  of  great  force. 

W.  J.  Rutledge  gave  $500,  was  then  forty-two  years 
of  age  and  chaplain  of  14th  Illinois  Volunteers.  He  was 
an  original  founder,  a jovial  man  and  true,  always  bris- 
tling with  ideas  which  seemed  to  be  dancing  and  prancing, 
impatient  for  utterance,  until  they  came  tumbling  over 
each  other  from  his  ever  ready  lips. 

J.  C.  Rucker  gave  $500,  about  $100  more  than  his 
salary  at  Waynesville,  where  he  was  sent. 

W.  H.  H.  Moore,  presiding  elder  of  Danville  District, 
gave  $400.  He  was  then  in  his  prime,  forty-eight  years 
of  age. 

William  H.  Webster,  now  a revered  father  in  the 
conference,  was  then  a young  man  of  twenty-seven  and 


moved  this  year  from  Island  Grove  to  Champaign.  In 
the  last  year  he  had  received  a salary  of  $253,  but  sent 
up  $40  for  the  fund  of  1862. 

W.  N.  McElroy,  destined  later  to  become  a leader 
in  the  conference  and  its  historian,  was  then  thirty  yeafs 
of  age  and  that  year  was  sent  to  Naples  to  get  rich  on 
$450  a year. 

Preston  Wood  at  thirty-seven  had  returned  from 
the  army  and  was  sent  to  Clinton.  Another  genial  soul 
and  sterling  character  with  unusual  gifts  as  a presiding 
elder  and  one  who  served  the  conference  faithfully  and 
well  in  all  the  varied  duties  imposed  upon  him. 

William  McK.  McElfresh,  the  lovable,  who  had 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  his  brethren,  was  then 
thirty-seven  years  of  age  and  stationed  at  Waverly,  re- 
moving that  year  from  Winchester,  where  his  salary  was 
$520. 

F.  W.  Phillips,  the  superb,  was  then  thirty-five  years 
of  age,  but  did  not  transfer  into  the  Illinois  conference 
until  some  years  later. 

W.  F.  Short,  afterwards  the  honored  president  of 
the  college,  was  then  thirty-three  years  of  age  and  that 
year  was  moved  from  Waverly  to  Winchester  with  his 
wife  and  little  brood  of  three  children,  where  they  lived 
happily  on  a salary  of  $500.  His  name  is  not  recorded 
in  the  list  of  ’62,  but  it  is  a matter  of  historical  record 
that  he  afterwards  gave  eighteen  of  the  best  years  of 
his  life  to  the  college  and  lives  today  in  the  lives  of 
scores  who  have  gone  out  from  its  doors  with  his  bless- 
ing into  all  parts  of  the  land. 

Reuben  Andrus,  the  second  president  of  the  college, 
in  1862  was  sent  from  Springfield  to  Bloomington  sta- 
tion, where  the  salary  was  about  $700. 


The  list  of  1862  credits  Joseph  Capps  with  giving 
$100.  If  this  represents  in  full  his  aid  to  the  college  at 
that  time  you  may  rest  assured  that  this  is  all  he  was  able 
to  give,  but  the  host  of  his  posterity  that  have  risen  up 
to  call  him  blessed  have  been  no  small  gift  to  the  church 
and  to  the  world,  and  his  influence  and  presence  through 
them  are  still  with  us.  Besides,  the  wheels  of  industry 
which  he  set  in  motion  are  still  running,  giving  to  the 
scores  who  watch  over  their  workings  the  blessings  of 
contentment  and  happy  homes ; and  the  fruit  of  the  looms 
are  also  being  distributed  broadcast  over  the  land  to 
comfort  and  to  bless.  Verily  may  it  be  said  of  such, 
“their  works  do  follow  them.” 

Wesley  Mathers'  name  is  not  on  the  list  of  sub- 
scribers to  the  fund  of  1862,  and  yet  will  any  one  say  that 
he  was  wanting  in  any  good  word  or  work?  If  at  this 
particular  time  his  name  is  not  in  evidence  there  is  cer- 
tainly some  good  reason  for  it,  for  he  and  his  brother, 
John,  were  always  faithful  and  true  and  liberal  to  all 
good  causes. 

Then  the  name  of  Jonathan  Stamper  does  not  ap- 
pear, yet  will  any  one  say  that  this  godly  man  and  great 
preacher  was  indifferent  to  any  of  the  church’s  enter- 
prises? 

And  then  what  about  the  wives  of  these  preachers 
who  had  mortgaged  years  of  the  future  in  order  that 
the  college  might  be  saved,  and  who  through  all  these 
years,  loyal  helpmeets  as  they  were,  stinted  themselves 
and  uncomplainingly  accepted  plain  living  and  scant  cloth- 
ing for  themselves  and  children  ? And  what  of  the  wives 
and  mothers  who  had  willingly,  though  sorrowfully,  hand- 
ed their  loved  ones  over  to  their  country,  to  march  off 
to  the  field  of  battle,  while  they  remained  at  home  to  look 
after  the  farm  and  the  little  ones,  and  whose  prayers  and 


pennies,  being  all  they  had  to  give,  cast  these  into  the 
treasury  even  as  the  widow  who  gave  her  mite?  These 
cannot  be  excluded — they  must  not  be — but  rather  would 
we,  if  only  their  names  were  known,  place  them  high  up 
on  the  list  of  those  whom  we  are  gathered  today  to  honor. 
The  true  founders  of  any  good  cause  born  in  adversity 
and  trial  are  not  made  by  printer’s  ink  nor  are  they  cre- 
ated by  any  line  or  standard  of  monetary  demarkation. 
True,  a rich  man  may  give  a large  sum  of  money  for  the 
founding  of  a very  worthy  object,  a thing  to  be  commend- 
ed and  encouraged,  even  if  it  does  sometimes  seem  to  be 
like  buying  a monument,  but  where,  as  in  1862,  it  has 
taken  tears  and  prayers  and  hardships  and  denials  as 
well  as  money,  then  none  who  have  contributed  any 
of  these  are  to  be  excluded  as  founders,  for  it  took  all 
of  these  things  to  make  the  foundation  sure.  So  to- 
day we  would  open  wide  our  arms  to  receive  all  such  of 
the  days  of  ’62  without  distinction,  and  bid  them  make 
merry  with  us,  as  we  rejoice  together  in  the  work  that 
they  have  done. 

WHAT  THEY  ACCOMPLISHED. 

As  with  some  books,  it  is  necessary  to  devote  most 
of  the  pages  to  a description  of  the  environments  and 
setting  in  order  to  bring  out  the  full  force  of  the  teach- 
ing or  story,  so  I have  found  it  necessary  to  describe  with 
some  detail  the  conditions  existing  fifty  years  ago  as  a 
preface  to  the  brief  application  which  I shall  make  of 
my  subject.  Having  shown  something  of  the  unusual 
and  trying  conditions  of  those  days  and  something  of  the 
men  who  were  on  the  scene  of  action  then,  it  only  re- 
mains, before  entering  upon  an  application  of  the  sub- 
ject, to  inquire  what  it  was  that  these  men  of  1862  ac- 
complished to  make  their  deeds  worthy  of  special  com- 
memoration and  celebration.  I know  of  nothing  that 


will  more  fully  and  fittingly  answer  this  inquiry  than  the 
report  of  John  Mathers,  treasurer  of  the  college  at  that 
time,  and  which  was  regarded  as  so  eventful  that  it  was 
ordered  printed  in  the  conference  minutes  of  1862.  It 
is  as  follows : 


REPORT  OF  THE  TREASURER  OF  ILLINOIS  CONFERENCE 
FEMALE  COLLEGE. 

I take  great  pleasure  in  being  able  to  announce  to  the  Illinois 
Conference  the  pleasing  fact  that  the  college  is  out  of  debt  On 
the  first  day  of  October,  1861,  the  liabilities  of  the  institution, 
principal  and  interest  to  that  date,  amounted  to  nearly  thirty-six 
thousand  dollars.  It  was  supposed  that  the  available  assets  or 
notes  belonging  to  the  college  would,  if  collected,  reduce  the 
indebtedness  to  thirty  thousand  dollars.  Shortly  after  the  ap- 
pointment of  Brother  James  as  agent,  a meeting  of  the  trustees 
was  called,  at  which  time  the  pecuniary  condition  of  the  institu- 
tion as  above  stated  was  presented  for  their  consideration.  The 
questions  then  and  there  discussed  were,  shall  we  sell  the  college? 
or  shall  we  make  one  more  effort  to  save  the  institution  to  the 
church?  The  final  conclusion  was  in  favor  of  the  effort  to  save, 
and  with  a view  to  this  the  board  proposed,  and  urged  upon  the 
treasurer,  to  agree  to  pay  or  assume  all  indebtedness  of  the  col- 
lege over  thirty  thousand  dollars,  in  consideration  of  which  they 
would  assign  to  him  all  the  notes  due  the  institution.  The 
treasurer,  though  reluctantly,  accepted  this  proposition.  The 
trustees  then  agreed  to  pay  two-thirds  of  the  remaining  thirty 
thousand  dollars,  provided  the  additional  ten  thousand  could  be 
secured  by  the  sale  of  Ashland  lots,  or  otherwise,  prior  to  the 
first  of  October,  1862.  The  agent  and  treasurer  during  the  past 
year  exerted  themselves  to  raise  the  desired  amount  prior  to 
said  date ; but  as  the  year  passed  away  it  became  evident  that 
this  could  not  be  done  outside  of  the  board  of  trustees,  and 
knowing  that  the  twenty  thousand  dollars  and  additional  small 
subscriptions  obtained  would  all  be  forfeited  on  the  first  of 
October  unless  the  whole  amount  was  secured  before  that  date, 
three  different  meetings  of  the  board  were  convened  during  last 
month,  and  after  a hard  but  united  effort  on  the  part  of  the 
trustees,  the  much  desired  sum  was  finally  secured  by  contri- 
butions and  sale  of  Ashland  lots,  as  follows,  and  by  the  following 
persons : 


(Here  follows  a list  of  subscriptions  of  35  names  aggregating 
$30,180.) 

It  will  be  seen  upon  examination  that  those  who  have  been 
and  are  now  trustees  of  the  college,  and  who  are  personally 
bound  for  the  debts  of  the  institution,  have  contributed  the  whole 
amount  of  said  $30,000,  except  $1,230.  It  will  also  be  seen  that 
a few  members  of  this  conference  have  contributed  over  nine 
thousand  dollars  of  this  debt,  a number  of  whom  will  not  be 
able  to  meet  their  obligations  except  at  the  sacrifice  of  nearly 
everything  they  are  worth.  Now,  Brethren,  is  this  right?  Why 
should  they  suffer  so  much?  Does  the  institution  belong  to 
them?  Certainly  not.  By  the  official  act  of  your  body  and  the 
legislature  it  is  the  “Illinois  Conference  Female  College.”  The 
trustees  have  been  appointed  by  this  body.  They  have  acted  in 
good  faith,  without  fee  or  reward,  as  your  agents ; and  you  are 
as  much  bound,  in  a moral  point  of  view,  to  pay  your  proportion 
of  this  debt  as  they  are.  And  now,  Brethren,  I close  this  report 
by  asking,  will  you  stand  by  and  see  the  members  of  your  own 
body  suffer  without  lending  them  the  least  assistance?  I hope 
not. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

John  Mathers,  Treasurer. 

WHY  THEY  SUCCEEDED. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  this  was  only  one  of  the 
burdens  these  men  had  to  carry.  Other  colleges  were 
also  having  problems  which  these  same  preachers  must 
help  to  solve,  then  their  missionary  and  benevolent  col- 
lections must  be  looked  after  and  the  work  of  their 
charges  and  districts  not  allowed  to  lag.  How  could  they 
under  all  these  conditions  accomplish  what  they  did?  In 
the  first  place  they  could  do  it  because  they  were  heroes. 
In  the  second  place,  I am  firmly  convinced  that  one  secret 
of  their  strength  and  of  their  ability  to  cause  things  to 
come  to  pass,  lay  largely  in  the  fact  that  they  were  united 
in  purpose,  without  jealousies,  not  self-seekers,  and  al- 
ways ready  to  put  forward  the  one  who  could  best  repre- 
sent them  or  accomplish  the  thing  at  hand ; preserving 
among  themselves  a feeling  of  good  fellowship  that  made 


EDMUND  J.  JAMES 

for  happy  and  effective  service,  and  these  taken  alto- 
gether forming  a cohesive  force  that  was  irresistible,  and 
thus  united  in  spirit  and  all  pulling  together  as  one  man, 
obstacles  and  difficulties  gave  way  before  them  as  before 
a mighty  army  and  victory  was  theirs. 

OUR  HOMAGE  THEIR  DUE. 

Having  now  seen  what  they  accomplished,  and  under 
what  extremely  adverse  and  discouraging  conditions,  need 
anything  further  be  said  to  show  that  they  are  entitled  to 
our  everlasting  gratitude,  homage  and  praise?  Surely 
their  deeds  are  their  sufficient  praise,  and  yet  it  is  ours 
to  do  them  tribute.  As  I have  thought  over  their  deeds, 
the  word  homage  in  the  sense  of  doing  obeisance  has  ap- 
pealed to  me  more  nearly  than  any  other  as  expressing 
the  proper  regard  due  them.  And  therefore  it  is  that  I 
took  for  the  subject  of  this  paper  “Our  Homage  to  the 
Past.” 

As  the  vassal  in  olden  times  paid  homage  to  his  supe- 
rior lord — so  we,  acknowledging  the  superior  talents,  for- 
titude, courage  and  faith  of  these  men  of  the  “Sixties,” 
gladly  and  loyally  do  homage  to  them  and  to  the  great 
work  they  have  clone  in  so  heroically  battling  against  the 
adversities  that  beset  them.  As  the  word  “homage” 
comes  down  to  us  ladened  with  the  aroma  of  feudal  days, 
perhaps  the  use  of  a more  modernized  and  Americanized 
expression  would  better  indicate  the  thought.  I mean 
that  we  of  today  may  well  “take  off  our  hats”  in  honor 
of  the  men  of  fifty  years  ago,  and  in  respectful  regard 
make  deferential  obeisance  to  their  memory.  It  was  their 
faith,  their  tenacity  and  persistence  and  their  indefatiga- 
ble labors  that  saved  the  day  in  the  dark  hours  of  ap- 
parent defeat  and  saved  to  the  future  the  life  of  a college 
which  ever  since  has  been  pouring  forth  its  streams  of 
blessings  into  lives  and  homes  all  over  this  land. 


COLLEGE  A WORTHY  MONUMENT. 

A college  such  as  this  may  well  be  likened  to  the  sun, 
constantly  sending  out  its  rays  of  blessings  and  brightness 
to  purify  and  enlighten  everything  that  comes  within  its 
influence,  and  that  without  diminishing  in  the  least  its  own 
inherent  power.  Ever  giving,  never  losing.  But,  unlike 
the  sun,  such  a school  throws  off  annually  little  suns, 
scattering  them  broadcast  over  the  land,  thus  forming 
new  centers  from  which  to  radiate  the  borrowed  light  of 
their  Alma  Mater  with  which  they  have  been  surcharged, 
and  to  permeate  the  world  with  the  benign  influences  of 
Christian  Womanhood.  Verily  the  fathers  planted  wisely 
in  planting  such  a school  as  this.  Did  they  plant  more 
wisely  than  they  knew?  We  of  today  shall  do  well  if  in 
taking  up  the  work  which  they  have  laid  down,  we  shall 
carry  it  on  in  a way  worthy  of  them  and  of  their  sacrifices, 
and  also  worthy  of  the  zeal  and  devotion  and  successful 
labors  of  those  who  have  followed  them  down  to  the  pres- 
ent time ; and  yet  it  is  not  an  unworthy  ambition  to  hope 
for  a future  so  glorious  and  so  far  beyond  their  brightest 
conceptions  and  ours  that  it  may  yet  be  said  of  all  of  them, 
“they  budded  better  than  they  knew.”  And  may  we 
not  indulge  the  further  hope  that,  with  the  past  looking 
down  upon  us  and  the  future  beckoning  on,  we  of  the 
present  may  so  dedicate  ourselves  to  the  duties  before  us 
that  we  also  may  claim  to  have  had  some  little  share  and 
part  in  earnestly  endeavoring  to  bring  about  these  higher 
hopes  and  aims. 

These  men  with  prophetic  vision  looked  down  the  vista 
of  the  years  and  heard  the  cry  of  the  young  womanhood 
of  today  and  of  the  days  to  come,  and  planted  here  in 
the  heart  of  the  great  Central  Valley  of  the  nation  a 
school  they  hoped  would  meet  that  cry,  and  in  fulfillment 
of  that  hope  there  stands  today  this  splendid  monument 
to  the  labors  and  foresight  of  these  noble  founders  and 
their  worthy  successors. 


SALUTATION  AND  TRIBUTE. 


Looking  back  into  the  dim  distant  past  of  fifty  years 
ago,  we  see  their  heroic  forms  and  faces,  their  struggles 
and  at  times  their  well  nigh  hopeless  task,  their  indom- 
itable courage,  their  sacrifices,  their  stern  grapple  with 
impending  defeat — and  across  this  long  expanse  of  years 
we  wave  salute : 

Brave  heroes  of  departed  years, 

All  Hail ! Thy  work,  though  sown  in  tears, 
Hath  brought  a harvest  rich  indeed, 

And  now  full  praise  shall  be  thy  meed. 

The  precious  seed  thus  sown  by  thee 
Are  great  sheaves  now,  couldst  thou  but  see. 
Rejoicing  we  would  now  thee  greet 
And  lay  them  at  the  sower’s  feet. 

The  inspiration  of  thy  day 
Still  lingers  with  us,  and  we  pray 
That  worthy  we  may  be  of  thee 
Whose  labors  spell  sublimity. 

Great  souls,  great  hearts,  great  men  of  God, 
Who  quailed  not  under  chastening  rod 
Of  hardship’s  task,  knew  not  despair, 

Knew  nothing  but  to  do  and  dare 

When  duty  called  and  God  did  show 
Wherein  He’d  have  thy  footsteps  go, 

Despising  naught  but  fail  of  gain, 

All  Hail ! thy  work  was  not  in  vain. 


. A ; ' 


EDMOND  J.  JAMES 


